NEW DELHI: Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran on Wednesday launched Microsoft's "Windows XP Starter Edition for India,'' the latest version of the local language operating system introduced in the country last year.

The new version has been created following extensive feedback from first time users in India and provides multi-language support, allowing them to seamlessly switch between English, Hindi and Tamil as the computing interface.

Asserting that affordable personal computers in Indian languages would help increase the population of computer-users in the country, Mr. Maran said that for the first time, an English and local language product has been created for a specific country. Lauding Microsoft's effort towards making its software affordable and available in local languages, he said it would boost proliferation of information technology among common people. The Communications and IT Minister also said he would talk to Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to look into the newly-imposed excise duty on packaged software as announced in the Union Budget for 2006-07 on Tuesday.

He, however, ruled out any reconsideration of the 12 per cent excise duty on computers, saying that it was as per the industry's aspiration.

According to Microsoft Corporation's Senior Vice President (Windows Client Business) Will Poole, the aim behind the latest offering was to enable access to technology and expand opportunities that help citizens realise the social and economic benefits of the global IT industry. "India is the first country to introduce the multi-lingual version of Windows XP Starter Edition and we hope that it will help more Indian citizens realise their full potential through technology,'' he added.

Windows XP Starter Edition for India enables beginner PC users to perform the tasks that matter to them most at a lower cost. Works 8 is an entry-level productivity application for first time users and includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database, calendar and an e-mail application. The product includes easy-to-use templates for everyday tasks such as school reports, resumes and home budgets.

AP adds:

The new search function, dubbed `street view', aims to give people a driver's view of downtown Seattle and San Francisco, using pictures detailed enough to make out cars and people. Available in test form, it is similar to Amazon.com Inc.'s A9 search engine, which provides detailed street-level views of certain cities.

Microsoft had earlier announced plans to start the U.S. online classified service, called Windows Live Expo, in the hopes of competing with the likes of Craigslist.

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